Re: ✘gpsd 3.23.1 is released!

[Gary E. Miller]

Yo Miroslav!

On Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:02:48 +0200
Miroslav Lichvar <mlichvar@redhat.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 10:09:21AM -0700, Gary E. Miller wrote:
> > Miroslav Lichvar <mlichvar@redhat.com> wrote:  
> > > I think changing names of constants in a public header counts as
> > > an API break. Existing software no longer builds.  
> > 
> > Fair enough.  But too late to change the release now.  Where were
> > you during the rc period?  
> 
> I'm sorry, I missed the rc period.

3 weeks is a long time...

> > > I'd suggest to add the old names for compatibility, maybe like
> > > this?  
> > 
> > Any program broken by the name change was already broken.  The
> > point of the name change was to make that clear.
> > 
> > Programs were mistaking the "FIX" in the name as meaning the
> > receiver had a valid fix.  That was never true.  Any program using
> > the old name needs to have much more changed than just the constant
> > name.  A bad stackoverflow answer got imbedded in a bunch of
> > programs, and made them flakey.  
> 
> As a general recommendation for developing libraries, if you need to
> make incompatible changes, try to delay and batch them as much as
> possible.

a) it only breaks programs that are already bad
b) there were weeks after the change for testing
c) Not an ABI break
c) kinda in a hurry for the 23 October 2021

> For me, it's much easier to update a distro package if it
> doesn't require other packages to be patched and/or rebuilt.

Fine, when the packages are good.  This change only breraks programs
that are already broken.

> With an
> API/ABI break it usually means it has to wait for the next version of
> the distribution, i.e. users that don't build it themselves will get
> it later.

I'll let you deal with your users on 24 October...

RGDS
GARY
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Gary E. Miller Rellim 109 NW Wilmington Ave., Suite E, Bend, OR 97703
        gem@rellim.com  Tel:+1 541 382 8588

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